Is Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth a sequel or remake?
Wondering if Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth is a sequel or remake? Get the answer to what FF7 Rebirth actually is and how it relates to the original game in the series.
The closer we get to Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth coming out, the more I've had friends ask if it's a sequel or remake of the original FF7. If you're a fan who hasn't played Final Fantasy 7 Remake or aren't familiar with the game, the answer might surprise you.
Is Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth a sequel or remake?
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth is a sequel to FF7 Remake first and foremost, but the game is essentially both - also being the second instalment of a three-part remake of the original game.
The reason that a remake of a 1997 PS1 game has been split up into three PS4/PS5 instalments is that each of the original FF7's three acts is being expanded into a fully realised adventure of its own.
How much of Final Fantasy 7 does FF7 Remake cover?
The FF7 Remake for example, launched on PS4 in 2020 and later PS5 in 2021, covers about 25% of the original Final Fantasy 7's story, focused entirely on its opening Midgar section. By itself, Remake is a 40-50 hour game.
Including all-new graphics, combat, side quests, and cinematics, the FF7's Midgar section becomes a fully fleshed-out story of its own in Remake - setting the stage for the rest to follow in Rebirth and the unannounced third game.
How much of FF7 will Rebirth cover?
After leaving Midgar following the end of Final Fantasy 7 Remake, Rebirth will cover events from the original to the Forgotten Capital, the last remaining vestige of the Ancients (also known as Cetra).
However, as director Tetsuya Nomura pointed out in a September 2023 PlayStation Blog interview, "the order in which you can explore the locations is not the same as the original Final Fantasy VII, and there are some shifts in the order".
One of these changes to the order of locations you visit includes Wutai, Yuffie's homeland, being pushed back to the next unnamed Final Fantasy 7 sequel instead of Rebirth.
As for how much the third game will cover, that depends on how big the changes in Rebirth are, but I'll be updating this guide as soon as I know more.
For more from the game, check out the full FF7 Rebirth trophies list, how long the demo takes to finish, its voice cast, and what pre-order bonuses you can get.
Alternatively, take a look at our Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth guides & news homepage for extra essentials and updates.
About The Author
Ben Williams
Ben is a Senior Guides Writer at GGRecon. Alongside his BA (Hons) in Business Management is a wealth of gaming and entertainment writing experience, having previously occupied roles as a Copywriter in e-commerce at Overclockers and Guides & SEO Writer at GameByte and FragHero. When not whipping up guides and reviews, Ben’ll be off playing the latest Pokemon games, Overwatch 2, Spider-Man, The Witcher, and Final Fantasy - all before reading manga and listening to Ice Nine Kills.
